Detroit Motor Show 2014: top ten best cars

10 - Infiniti Q50 Eau Rouge

Infiniti occupies 10th place in our list, not for the Q50 that attempts to rival the likes of the BMW 3 Series but has received an indifferent reaction so far. Instead, its the Q50 Eau Rouge concept, a car that’s supposed to stir excitement in the brand ahead of a model onslaught that includes five new cars arriving in the next four years.

The Eau Rouge itself is mainly a styling exercise with some tasty body add-ons that liven up the otherwise uninteresting Q50 design. It aims to build on Infiniti’s relationship with F1 world championship winning team, Red Bull Racing. No doubt, if the Eau Rouge makes it into production, Infiniti’s Director of Performance, Sebastian Vettel, will have a hand in how it drives.

It feels like we’ve known about the new C-Class for a while now, but this was actually its world debut. Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland serenaded the new C-Class on to the stage, with all the talk being about advanced technology that’s rolled down from the S-Class and the high quality interior.

Refreshingly, the only reference to putting a smile on the driver’s face was when economy was mentioned – Merc is majoring on comfort. But the highlight is undoubtedly that beautifully styled and built interior, spoiled only by Merc’s now familiar add-on infotainment screen that sits on top of the dash like an afterthought.

In spite of two versions being shown, we only get the sportier looking of the pair models – a luxury version with a stylish, larger grille and the three-pointed star on top won’t be coming to the UK.

Here’s another blast from the past brought bang up-to-date – a new STI Subaru. It’s based on the standard WRX but with the traditional treatment of big wings, beefy wheel arches and the must-have accessory for every Subaru wannabe rally car: gold wheels.

The UK was a successful stomping ground for the STI until it started to get watered down into a more mundane hot hatchback, so Subaru is hoping the new car can revive its fortunes. Much will depend on whether the price is right, hopefully under £30,000. But Subaru won’t have it all it’s own way as the STI’s arch nemesis is on the way back in the form of a new Mitsubishi Evo!

Lexus is turning into a genuine rival for BMW, Mercedes and Audi – first with the ingenious new IS and now with the stunning RC coupe. The RC F is the range-topping V8 version boasting well over 450bhp and a 0-62mph time of just over four seconds.

The RC is already a great looking coupe but the F adds a more aggressive body kit and active rear wing to take the fight well and truly to BMW’s new M4 (which also received its world debut in Detroit).

The RC-F may have followed its lesser brethren onto the scene but it will actually arrive first. Expect it around the end of this year with a price pretty close to the M4s at around £57,000.

The Detroit motor show wouldn’t be complete without a bit of Detroit iron – or in this case, plastic. While the standard Corvette Stingray was being named North American Car of the Year, GM was busy unveiling this race-bred Z06 version with around 625bhp from its supercharged V8 engine.

There’s a choice of seven-speed manual or eight-speed auto and three different aero packs, one specially aimed at track use. The Z06 will be coming to the UK but, like the Stingray, it’ll only be available in left hand drive.

The Volvo XC90 is due for replacement later this year after 12 years in production, and this concept gives us big clues as to how the new big SUV will look. It follows o from Frankfurt’s Concept Coupe and, like it’s lower, sleeker forebear, sits on Volvo’s new Scalable Product Architecture (SPA).

The new floating grille and T-shaped LED lights are likely to feature, as will a large iPad-sized infotainment screen using Volvo’s Android-based Sensus Connected Touch system. We’ll see the new XC90 in all its glory at the Paris motor show in October.

It’s in with the old at Porsche with the 991 model 911 Targa harking back to the original 1965 model, but with a modern twist. The Targa roof panel is stowed in the boot electronically, through a theatrical manoeuvre where the glass rear screen lifts up and back, the Targa hoop reveals a mechanical lifting device and the cloth panel (which is identical to that on the cabrio) is lifted into the boot.

The new 911 Targa is based on the new 911 Carrera 4 and there’s a more powerful S model, too. First deliveries of the new Targa will be in April this year and you can order one now at your local Porsche centre with prices starting at £86,281.

From the pictures, you might think this would be a teaser for 2016’s Audi Q1 SUV. But up close, it’s clear this car is the new Audi TT due later this year. It’s lower and wider in the flesh, with clear TT styling cues like the more chiselled front end, updated rear lights and signature crease running down the side of the car.

The concept car’s dash is likely to feature pretty much unchanged with Audi insiders promising an advanced full colour TFT screen in place of traditional dials. We’ll see the finished TT at the Geneva Motor Show in March and it’ll be on sale in the UK in September. And Audi hasn’t ruled out a shooting brake version of the TT, which would be pretty close in design to this concept.

Kia’s stunning GT4 Stinger came close to being our star of the show, giving clues to the affordable, enthusiast’s rear-wheel drive sports car Kia’s been teasing us about for the past couple of years.

Those stacked LED lights and see-through A-pillars might not make it into production but there’s a strong chance we’ll see a car like this from Kia within the next couple of years – let’s hope they decide to do it in right hand drive for the UK.

Kia certainly has the bits available to make the car – the concept features the company’s 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, while the platform could come from the rear-drive Hyundai Genesis.

The undoubted star of the show is Toyota’s front-engined, rear-wheel drive FT-1 Concept. FT stands for ‘Future Toyota’ and the good news is that Toyota hasn’t ruled out making it a reality – possibly as a new Supra.

The even better news is that you can drive it now… but only if you’re a gaming fan – the FT-1 features as a download on Playstation game Gran Turismo 6.

There’s no word on what power is underneath that sensational bodywork, other than it’s a traditional internal combustion engine rather than a Hybrid. Want Toyota to build the FT-1? We certainly do but let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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OMG! The Toyota FT-1 Concept is spectacular!!!!!! Please tell me its a go!

Submitted by onesunlover on Wed, 2014-01-15 03:11.

Loving the Kia Stinger as well

Submitted by bkwanab on Wed, 2014-01-15 03:13.

And the Ford F150 pickup truck will out sell them all.

Submitted by Corvette Stingray 10/10 Wow! on Wed, 2014-01-15 12:57.

Ford's massive F-150 will be the most popular looked at vehicle at the show.

A massive 700 lbs saved in weight on this new model by using more aluminium, MPG will improve by 8 MPG is an improvement of nearly 1/3 with the weight savings.

Submitted by Corvette Stingray on Wed, 2014-01-15 13:22.

F-Series 767,406 sales in the USA in 2013.

Fiesta UK No1 best seller 121,929 sales in 2013.

It's will be the most looked over vehicle at the "Motor City" show, some will be will be GM engineers, who have just released their new Silverado truck whose truck sales will now get blown out water at launch, ouch GM has just launched a duff stillborn new truck!!

Submitted by Corvette Stingray on Wed, 2014-01-15 13:32.

You are right the Kia has that wow factor, at a wow factor price.

Submitted by Corvette Stingray on Wed, 2014-01-15 13:40.

It looks outrageously spectacular, with bomb proof Japanese reliability & spectacular design concept make this Toyota a potent mix.

Total opposite of SSss send you to sleep typical unreliable Vauxhall design.

Submitted by Corvette Stingray on Wed, 2014-01-15 13:45.

Me to, you have got to give credit to the Koreans at Kia, it's a stunning car with stunning reliability these days at a stunning price.

Submitted by Zimny Pawel on Wed, 2014-01-15 15:24.

Kia Stinger is just a copy of Audi Quattro Concept, pls take a look at the photos.. :)

Submitted by LeventTaskan on Thu, 2014-01-16 15:25.

Build the FT-1!!!!

Submitted by maserati123 on Thu, 2014-01-16 19:15.

Toyota looks like a PACKARD

Submitted by maserati123 on Thu, 2014-01-16 19:21.

The Ford aluminum F150 is a disaster waiting to happen.This is a truck not a sports car,and most body shops have no idea how to repair aluminum.But the main problem is,and I do not know why Ford did not think about this before putting Aluminum in a truck at this time in history, when copper and aluminum are being stolen hourly. You will go to bed with an F150 and wake up with F@%# Then I guess the MPG will be better, because it will definitely be lighter.